Although warming up a Honey Baked ham isn't strictly necessary, since it comes fully cooked and ready to eat, we don't know many people skipping breakfast to make room for lukewarm ham slices. So, if you're like us and you prefer your pre-prepared ham piping hot, there are several to get it there without drying it out.
4 Ways to Heat a Honey Baked Ham
The Honey Baked Ham Co. recommends that you let the ham stand at room temperature ½ hour before serving to get it to the ideal temperature. We're not going to argue with company that makes the ham in question, but we are going to offer a few of the different ways you can warm up a Honey Baked ham. You know, just in case.
The Oven Method
To heat a whole Honey Baked Ham in the oven, follow these three simple steps:
- Keep the Honey Baked Ham in its original foil wrapper or remove the wrapper and wrap with your own foil to keep it from drying out.
- Maintain the oven temperature at about 275°F to 300°F.
- A general time guide is to heat for 10 minutes for every pound of ham.
If you prefer to heat by the slice, simply slice off just what you want to heat, wrap in foil or place in an oven-proof dish and cover with foil. Then, use the same temperature (275-300°F) for no longer than 15 minutes to heat the slice.
The Slow Cooker Method
If you want to impress your family and friends with a really juicy, flavorful ham, try warming it in the slow cooker. With a slow cooker, you need a good amount of moisture so you'll want to plop that whole Honey Baked Ham, or just a few slices, into a few inches of broth or sauce. Set on low and keep checking it until it's at the desired temperature.
Leave it for a few hours in the broth if you really want it dripping. If you don't want your ham's flavor to change much and to just add some moisture to the ham, wrap the whole ham in aluminum foil and put in the cooker with a few inches of water to keep it from burning.
If you want a more complex flavor profile, add slices of fruits (like apples, pears, and oranges) or veggies (like onions) to the cooker while it warms.
The Microwave Method
We know, it sounds like a fabulous idea (right up there with leaving forks in the microwave), but they don't recommend heating up a whole ham in the microwave. Doing so will cause the outside to melt and the inside to be cold. If you want to heat up the ham by the slice, slice off what you need and heat the slice of ham in 10 to 20 second increments until it reaches your desired temperature. Because microwave-heated ham won't stay hot for long, serve the slices immediately after warming them.
Always wrap your ham slices with a wet paper towel when heating them in the microwave to keep them from drying out.
The Skillet Method
You can also heat ham slices in a skillet. Place a slice in a skillet on the stove set to low and heat on each side until warm. Be careful not to overcook and dry out the slice, because a skillet will heat up the ham really quickly.
Warming Tips to Make a Delicious Main Dish
If you don't want to spend the night in the ER, then there are several things to keep in mind when heating up your Honey Baked Ham.
- Use a meat thermometer. Since the ham is already cooked, you only need it to be about 140°F (60°C) in the center to be warm enough to eat.
- Avoid repeated heating. This dries out the ham and makes it about as pleasant to chew on as shoelaces.
- Use water to keep it from drying out. Try placing a shallow pan with water on the oven rack below the ham when heating.
To Cook or Not to Cook
The subtle flavors, crispy glaze, spiral cut and perfect tenderness of an official Honey Baked Ham make it a favorite for non-cooks and cooks alike. Unfortunately, many a fantastic dinner party has turned into a fiasco when distracted hosts try to cook their fully cooked hams. Instead of admitting defeat and ordering takeout, try one of these tried-and-true methods for warming a Honey Baked Ham.
